I spent the afternoon with my host, Brian, basking in the sun and cooling off in the icy waters of Camps Bay beach. Afterward, I headed to my new host family in Brackenfell, where going out is a rare event, and a McDonald’s takeout is considered an enormous, once-a-year luxury.
Since Brian had taken the day off from his job as a graphic designer, we both enjoyed a slow start to the day. I woke around 11 a.m., showered, and joined Brian, who was just waking up himself, lounging on the couch.
For breakfast, or brunch, he made oats with hot milk—simple but filling. We sipped our coffee and woke up fully while half-watching the world’s latest drama on the news: the USA – Afghan War had started.
Brian suggested we spend the day relaxing at Camps Bay, where, if you remember, I almost lost my toes to the freezing water back on October 7. It was sunny and hot outside, so it sounded like a good plan. We hopped on his motorcycle and took off. The ride felt long as we zipped along motorways and winding valley roads, passing through several Cape Town suburbs. Brian gave me the deluxe tour, taking us along the chilly coastline before arriving at Camps Bay.
We spent a good while lounging on the white sands. I braved the cold water a few times, though I couldn’t feel my feet when I came out, despite the sun blazing at over 25°C.
After soaking up some sun and catching a bit of a tan, we decided to grab a drink at one of the beachside terraces. A street musician serenaded us with Bob Marley tunes while I sipped my lemon iced tea, watching stylish beachgoers pass by. Life is nice.
Around 3 p.m., it was time to head back. Brian grabbed some doughnuts at Pick ‘n Pay, and we scootered back to Rondebosch. The ride home, with wet hair drying in the breeze, was a mix of warmth and chill.
Back at his apartment, we devoured the doughnuts and leftover pizza for lunch. By 4 p.m., Brian was ready to drop me off at my next hostess, Denise, who worked at the Sea Point boulevard.
Brian has a Vespa motorcycle but also owns a vintage light-blue Volkswagen Beetle, which I adore. These cars may shake you like a tumble dryer, but they always get you where you need to go. It’s part of their charm!
I thanked Brian for the great time, the adventures, and the motorcycle rides, and then met Denise at her law firm’s office near the high-class President Hotel in Cape Town. She wrapped up her work as the Personal Assistant to the director and drove me to her family home in Brackenfell.
Brackenfell is a northern suburb of Cape Town. Denise explained that the southern suburbs are mostly English-speaking, while the northern areas have a larger Afrikaans-speaking population. Afrikaans, though associated with South Africa’s difficult colonial past, remains the primary language in many of these areas. Newspapers and magazines in Afrikaans are still widely circulated. I expect to encounter more Afrikaans as I head further into the country.
Denise is married to Kobus, and they have a 3-year-old son named Ryan. From Denise’s stories, it’s clear they lead a hectic life. Both work hard to make ends meet, and simple luxuries like takeout are rare treats. Kobus, who didn’t pursue higher education after high school, self-studied and became Microsoft-certified. He now works as a computer engineer, and Denise hopes that one day he’ll earn enough for her to reduce her hours and be home when Ryan gets out of school.
Denise’s daily routine starts at 5:30 a.m. She does housework, prepares breakfast, drops Ryan off at school, and then battles traffic to the city. After work, she faces the same traffic on her way to pick up Ryan and head home to cook dinner. Kobus, on the other hand, catches the early train into the city and doesn’t return until around 8 p.m.
Denise dreams of spending more time in the kitchen, as she loves cooking. She told me about a local woman who started making affordable home-cooked meals for people too busy for instant meals from Woolworths or Marks & Spencer. The business boomed within weeks, and Denise wishes she could do something similar and be home more often.
That evening, I met Kobus and their pets: a snowy white cat and a golden retriever puppy named Simba (yes, after The Lion King). Simba, still thinking he’s a lapdog, was found by a family member a few weeks ago and has since become part of the household.
We spent the evening quietly, unwinding after their long workdays. Denise let me use her computer to catch up on some work, but South Africa’s internet connection can be temperamental. At times, it feels like the entire country’s system stalls when too many users are online, making it hard to upload pictures, read emails, or post updates. So bear with me if there’s a lull in communication.
Despite the hiccups, I managed to get a lot done and stayed up late. Denise and Kobus had promised me a sleep-in, and I fully intended to take advantage.
Good night, Brackenfell!
Ramon
